UK extends support for Britons applying for residency
THE UK government is extending support for potentially at-risk groups – including pensioners, disabled people and those with language difficulties who live in Europe – by continuing the activity of the UK Nationals Support Fund (UKNSF) and supplementing it with an additional £1 million.
The UKNSF provides funds to eight organisations to support UK nationals who need assistance with their residency applications.
These organisations operate in 11 EU Member States and Norway, and since the launch of the fund in March 2020, have provided practical support for UK nationals who need assistance with the process of applying/registering for residency in 12 European countries, following the end of the Transition Period.
This funding is in addition to £3 million announced by the UK foreign secretary in March 2020.
According to the British Embassy, figures published by Spain’s immigration observatory (Observatorio Permanente de la Inmigracion) show that as of December 31,
2020 there were 381,448 UK nationals holding a valid residency certificate or card in Spain.
However, according to the national statistics institute (INE), there were only 300,987 Britons registered as living in Spain on the 2020 census.
The Embassy noted that the UKNSF will continue to operate in Spain and other EU countries.
British Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott, said: “I am delighted that more funding has been provided to Age in Spain, Babelia and IOM through the UK Nationals
Support Fund. “These organisations provide vital support to UK nationals who need additional help with their residency application in Spain, so I urge any UK nationals who are struggling with the process to contact them for help.”
UK nationals should visit the Living in Spain Guide at gov.uk/livinginspain to check what action they may need to take, noted the Embassy.
They can contact Babelia serving the provinces of Alicante, Valencia and Castellón - via the Babelia website; on email at info@asociacionbabelia.org; and on their helpline 865 820 229 available Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 14.00.
The International Organisation for Migration serves Murcia region, as well as other parts of the country including Andalucía.
They can be contacted via the IOM Spain website; email to UK nationalsSP@iom.int; and the Murcia helpline on 648 642 543 from Monday to Thursday, 15.30 to 17.00.